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[thatfilmduderyan]

Caspian UK Weekender - August 2022

A few snaps from my long weekend with the fellas. More profound words over on my instagram.

[thatfilmduderyan]

BEN NEVIS - A NEW DOCUMENTARY

Hello my friends. It’s been a while again but I wanted to let you know that in May two great things happened. The first was that I shot my next short film ‘The Birdwatcher’ which I will post about soon, and the other was I climbed Ben Nevis! 

I was accompanying the charity ‘Man Down’ following them complete a challenge of 8 men carrying a 82kg log to the top to help raise awareness for the 82 men a week that take their own life in suicide within the UK. Men’s mental health is a super important topic to me so it was an honour to be a part of this. We will be shooting interviews this September with a view to release the documentary this Christmas. If you’re after a more poetic insight along with some information on a couple things that happened on the way up and down, then head over to my instagram and read on! I’ll be doing a longer post at some point when the project has moved along a little more, but for now here are some photos I shot on the way up and down the mountain face. 

More soon

Rx

Click here for my instagram

Click here to follow Man Down and get further information on the mental health charity

[thatfilmduderyan]

Hi folks!

Well, it’s been a while hasn’t it? And yes we’ve all been through this horrible pandemic which has caused so much pain for so many. Work kinda dropped off for a lot of us filmmakers and that’s been a tough one to contemplate. I should maybe write something about all that soon, but for now I wanted to drop an early secret with you all (shhhh). 

Finally Backwoods (my HP Lovecraft short) is going to be online, for free. The fine people at Directors Notes will be releasing it along with an article about myself and its writer Neil Fox. This will happen next Thursday (February 10th 2022). The film has done better than I ever expected, including a recent release on the Severin films ‘All The Haunts Be Ours’ blu-ray boxset, plus it being featured on the award winning folk horror documentary ‘Woodlands Dark, Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror’. Again, I should write more about this, and will soon.

For now though I am at home recovering from Covid. I’m out of my isolation tomorrow, but it’s been a strange one. I’m lucky to have fought it off for the most part with minor sickness but the isolation definitely is something which has been tough at times. Please take care out there all of you! In the mean time prepare for Backwoods and if you like it (or don’t like it) then share a review on letterboxd! Feedback is always welcome. 

I recommend you also visit www.directorsnotes.com to check out some other great films, but I’ll be sure to post relevant links next week to our one.

That’s all for now. Much love!

Rx

[thatfilmduderyan]

10 YEARS OF CRASHBURN AS A REGISTERED BUSINESS

Happy birthday Crashburn; you’ve been a proper business for 10 years this week. I remember the day that I decided to start my own media company. I’d finished film school and the desire to be a film director was very much a new burning fire inside but it seemed so far away. I had no in roads and knew that it wouldn’t be an easy task. I’d watched my parents work their asses off their entire life at their own business so I already had an education in the pitfalls and triumphs. At the time music was such a huge part of my life and the hardcore music world was expanding my tastes and awareness. It was a place that felt like home and I wanted to contribute to it. Somehow the idea of using it as a practise ground for directing just felt right because of the open mindedness of people. Bands that had inspired me in all walks deserved to have something back from me (an attitude I still adopt often). There were no real mid-level independent production companies working in the music industry at the time apart from a couple who were themselves taking strides in their own direction (one was @sitcomsoldiers, Ben I will never forget all the advice you gave me man, I love you and the boys like fam). I knew that there would be no money at the start of this career choice and the chances of finding clients would be lengthy and slim. Never the less something inside told me it was the right thing and I’ve always been one to follow my heart. So it began with borrowing cameras from the university and filming live shows at Princess Pavilions in Falmouth. Then my dad one night said ‘Ryan I’m gonna invest in you and buy you a couple of cameras’. I never looked back. I’ll never forget us being sat in a Chinese eating and my dad just telling me across the table. I could’ve cried. But before I knew it I was driving to shows all over the southwest in my tiny Peugeot 106. I’d turn up at venues, sneak in, find the band and ask them to film. A few crazy individuals joined me on that quest and it was hilarious. I’d told people I was going to use social media to publish my work and again they laughed. “Social media what’s that shit ever going to amount to” (the rest is history). Word began to spread…. Youtube appeared. 

Then one band gave me a chance; you know them as Enter Shikari. Shortly after aritst extraordinaire Richey Beckett gave me a chance to go on tour with his hardcore band Shaped By Fate and make a DVD. We learned as we went and a couple of early disasters burned me hard but made me determined to be the best. Then I emailed @fouryearstrongmusic who agreed to take my on a bus tour and through them I met Crime In Stereo (which lead to the I Am Everything I Am Not video). Then before we knew it we were at Brixton Academy filming Mastodon for a live DVD. There was no instagram and bands just didn’t take video or photo people on tour unless they had bank. Shortly after this I started riding the US Wave scene and @defeaterhc came into my life. I’ve been filming them since 2011 for a career defining hardcore documentary and through them I met Caspian who again have become hugely important people in my world. I worked multiple times with Funeral For A Friend over the years and got to know the guys pretty well (thank you Matt, our friendship of recent years means toe world to me). There just are so many bands and they’re listed on the image above. Over the years so many people have joined me on this journey and it’s quite frankly been insane. It has tested me many times; moments sat on my own feeling lost, times when the bank called me asking why I direct debits were bouncing etc etc. You’ve heard these stories from many other people who dare to go after something. But the value of this all was made so apparent at times when I’ve been heartbroken or depressed over something, and the only thing that has cured it has been my creativity (this morning Ethan Hawke reminded me of this through his ted talk video). 

My creativity overall has given me more joy than I can explain; it’s allowed me to discover who I really am and to value myself as an artist. It’s made me feel strong as a human being and not be afraid to share my work/ideals. I found my voice and style as a director through this journey and my documentary work came alive. It taught me to tell stories in 3 or 4 minutes which Stanley Kubrick once said was the best way to practise being a director. And then eventually bands like Slayer and Trivium arrived telling me that I was their chosen man. Those bands’ trust and support recently made me feel like I’d levelled up. It made me feel stronger than I ever have before. Crashburn is an invisible brother to me. I cannot thank the people enough who have been part of the team over the years. Thank you to my family and friends; as you all know you mean everything to me. When people said ‘no’ I quite literally laughed and said ‘yes’ (and this was before Instagram filled up with sales people using that sentiment to sell you shit you don’t need). Crashburn I love you. You will never die because you are a part of my soul. Now I find myself looking back filled with joy, but ironically while we exist together, established, I now also begin back at the start again. Myskatonic is your baby brother; a new company. What’s the plan? Do it all over again but with feature films. I’m going to employ new people not just from the film world but from bands too. They’ll be a part of my feature film team. Sounds crazy right? No, it’s already happening and we’ve made 2 films. Now we begin a 3rd and also my first feature. The road is still uncertain but it’s worth the squeeze. I’m older and a little wiser but once again where people are saying ‘no’ I am saying ‘yes’. In the middle of a pandemic my heart feels sore and hollow some days, but most of the time it’s saying ‘let’s go, fuck all these fools that are being irresponsible assholes’. It’s time. 

Once again thank you to everyone who is a part of my life and supports me. You all keep me going in those times where I’m sat on my own wondering how the fuck a 36 year old man should live. The funny thing is I know my answer, now to put that into motion. And to you the reader; I hope something I do inspires you a bit. I hope my work makes you feel a little more human, a little more raw, and a little more empathic to others. Remember that without our connections to others we are nothing, and nothing could be more true when it comes to Crashburn. The CBFU is a family. 

Rx

[thatfilmduderyan]

Letterboxd

I’ve joined Letterboxd! Please drop me a follow if you’d like to see what I’m watching/reviewing!

[thatfilmduderyan]

More biting commentary. USE IT: https://bit.ly/3gLCzXQ

[thatfilmduderyan]

I’ve joined Letterboxd

It seemed like a good place to share thoughts on the box of films I have to work through over the coming months. Please drop me a follow if you’re on there!

https://letterboxd.com/TheRyanMackfall/

[thatfilmduderyan]

Quick Update!

Damn! 2020 is here and I’ve literally not even stopped to post or get some content in here. Since my last post on Backwoods the film has had 2 other amazing screenings at other festivals and there’s more to come.

I’m currently sat working on pre-production for a new music video that we shoot this Thursday. I’ve also got a few things on the horizon Slayer related (who I’ve been working with for the last year). 

I’m taking a break from instagram at the moment but as ever this leads to me thinking about posting better content on this site (because this is one of the most important to me). 

Anyways, just a quick note to update. I’ve also added a ‘buy me a coffee’ link in my bio which I thought was a pretty good thing to add to here. I do most of my posting in the morning as the rest of my day is often taken up with duties towards my filmmaking. So if you want to fuel some content then it will be gratefully received!

If you feel like buying me a coffee now visit this link: buymeacoff.ee/ryancrashburn

More soon!

Rx

[thatfilmduderyan]

BACKWOODS WORLD PREMIERE CONFIRMED - OCTOBER 2019

I’m pleased to announce that my H.P. Lovecraft film adaptation of ‘The Picture In The House’ (called Backwoods) will premiere at the H.P. Lovecraft film festival in Portland, Oregon, USA in early October 2019. Considering the subject matter of our film it’s the highest of honours to be selected for this festival and both the producers and myself can think of no better place.

On Wednesday we did a pre-screener at Folk Horror Conference 2019 at Falmouth University and conference organiser and renowned Folk Horror scholar Dawn Keetley commented that the film was “one of the best Lovecraft adaptations she’s seen, as a Lovecraft fan”. 

Further release information at other festivals to come soon!

You can view the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/307522810

[thatfilmduderyan]

"I haven’t been over to England recently, but I can feel this Brexit thing, I can feel the torment. It’s a deeply strange situation. Nobody really thought you’d want to exit [the EU]. It is a terrible disaster. Totally nuts."

Lynch on Brexit, echoing how many filmmakers feel. 

[thatfilmduderyan]

“I thought I was a man. I had a life, people called me Kane, and now I’m not so sure. If I wasn’t Kane what was I? Was I you? Were you me? My flesh moves like liquid, my mind is cut loose.”

Annihilation, directed by Alex Garland 

[thatfilmduderyan]

The legend. I just listened to an incredible podcast the other day featuring Ian MacKaye talking not only about his song writing process but his approach to life in general. If you’re a fan of Ian, Fugazi or any of his other projects then click the link below to listen on spotify. 

The Working Songwriter Podcast: Ian MacKaye

[thatfilmduderyan]

Ingmar Bergman discussing film in ‘Bergman and The Faro Islands’

[thatfilmduderyan]

Shout out to my good friend Martin aka Gingerdope for these promo photos she grabbed of me on location the other month. She actually managed to capture some images that really do reflect the place of peace I try to take myself to when I’m directing. A lot of the time on shoots there really isn’t any room for overthinking, and that is confined to before or maybe after the shoot when variables can be considered or discussed. As a director you’re the centre point of a production and often other people are feeding off you for information or advice; therefore if you’re stressed or angry it can pass onto others (whether you realise it or not). Naturally you can’t always be the calm centre of the universe, easpecially when a ‘tactical bombing’ is required (as Ingmar Bergman once said), but it should be something that is adhered to as often as possible to make the production as fun as humanly possible for everyone else. As the great Bill Murray says.... 

"You have to remind yourself that you can do the very best you can when you're very, very relaxed, no matter what it is, whatever your job is. The more relaxed you are, the better you are. That's sort of why I got into acting. I realised the more fun I had, the better I did. I thought, well, that's a job I could be proud of.”

Check out more of Gingerdope’s work here on instagram!

[thatfilmduderyan]

Swell, Warren Keelan

[thatfilmduderyan]

It says a lot when the New York Times start writing articles like this.... 

[thatfilmduderyan]

Head over to the Grammy’s website now for an article on one of my recent collaborators, Mr Will Yip. The Grammys grabbed a quote from my twitter and some photos I’ve shot while I’ve been in his studio with Caspian, here in Conshohocken, PA, USA. Will’s been gracious enough to let me into Studio 4 for both the Defeater and Caspian records and on both occasions he’s spoke personally in interviews about his process with said bands. We’re here now making a new film and it’s largely thanks to his cooperation. Honoured and privileged to not only have his time and respect, but also his friendship. Go read more about him now by clicking the link below.

https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/philly-producerengineer-will-yip-works-harder-you